Fuel cell and fuel cell separator

Abstract

A pair of separators sandwiches an electrode assembly of fuel cell including an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes provides on respective sides of the electrolyte. The separator facing a fuel electrode is provided with a coolant introduction passage on the back of a fuel introduction passage and a second manifold for fuel supply.

1 . A fuel cell comprising: 
 a membrane and electrode assembly having an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes provided on respective sides of the electrolyte; and    a pair of separators sandwiching said membrane and electrolyte assembly, wherein    each of said pair of separators is provided with an opening for supply of a reactant gas, one of surfaces of each separator is provided with reactant gas passages and a reactant gas introduction passage for guiding the reactant gas from the opening for supply of a reactant gas to the reactant gas passages, and a coolant passage is provided on the back of the reactant gas introduction passage of at least one of said pair of separators.    
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the coolant passage is formed so that the coolant flows around the entirety of the opening for supply of the reactant gas.    
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 an opening for supply of the coolant is provided in said pair separators,    the opening for supply of the reactant gas and the opening for supply of the coolant are provided above the reactant gas passages,    the opening for supply of the coolant is located substantially above the opening for supply of the reactant gas, and    the coolant flows vertically downward from the opening for supply of the coolant.    
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 an opening for supply of the coolant is provided in said pair separators,    the opening for supply of the reactant gas and the opening for supply of the coolant are provided above the reactant gas passages,    the opening for supply of the coolant is located substantially above the opening for supply of the reactant gas, and    the coolant flows vertically downward from the opening for supply of the coolant.    
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the opening for supply of the coolant is located between two openings for supply of the reactant gas respectively supplying a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, and    the opening for supply of the coolant is closer to the opening supplying the fuel gas than to the opening supplying the oxidizing gas.    
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 the opening for supply of the coolant is located between two openings for supply of the reactant gas respectively supplying a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, and    the opening for supply of the coolant is closer to the opening supplying the fuel gas than to the opening supplying the oxidizing gas.    
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell according to  claim 2 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         9 . The fuel cell according to  claim 3 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel cell according to  claim 4 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         11 . The fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         12 . The fuel cell according to  claim 6 , wherein the reactant gas introduction passage includes a connecting passage that runs upward from the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         13 . A fuel cell separator comprising: 
 an opening for supply of a reactant gas;    reactant gas passages provided on one of separator surfaces; and    a reactant gas introduction passage for guiding the reactant gas from the opening to the reactant gas passages, wherein    a coolant passage is provided on the back of the reactant gas introduction passage.    
     
     
         14 . The fuel cell separator according to  claim 13 , wherein the coolant passage is formed so that the coolant flows around the entirety of the opening for supply of the reactant gas.  
     
     
         15 . A fuel cell separator constructed such that a first base plate and a second base plate are in contact with each other, wherein 
 the first base plate comprises:    an opening for supply of a reactant gas;    reactant gas passages provided on a surface of the first base plate which is not in contact with the second base plate; and    a reactant gas introduction passage for guiding the reactant gas from the opening for supply of the reactant gas to the reactant gas passages, and wherein    the second base plate is provided with a cooling water passage on a surface of the second base plate which is in contact with the first base plate.